Gear Ratio understanding

[883cobra]

I need help in understanding the effect of changing out the rear end gears in my car.The car is a stock 94 cobra with 3.08 gears using the stock wheels and tire size.Please explain what would happen with the cars performance if I was to install either 3.27 ,3.55 or 3.73 gears.
i drive the car everyday about 30 miles a day.Most of the time at a speed of around 60 mph.The car seems to be sluggish when I start out in first gear and getting up to speed.The motor does have plenty of miles on it but it feels to be pulling fine.
I need a "forum education" in understanding what would happen if I should go up in gear ratio some.
thank you

 

[MustangChris]

changing the gears changes how your car "uses" its power.

By changing the gears in the rear end you're changing the number of times the wheel turns for each rotation of the driveshaft. 3.73:1 gears are a gear where your driveshaft turns 3.73 times per rotation of the tire.

That being said, you'll be running higher RPMs at all speeds.

I can tell you from personal experience that 3.73s in a 5 speed are 99% streetable. 4.10s are 90% streetable with the exception of long road trips (I made multiple road trips to wyoming on 4.10s)

for those who worry about MPG I got over 20MPG on my last road trip to Wyoming. I have 500 HP, 4.10 gears, a 5 speed, running on e-85, without cruise control, without air conditioning, with windows down. blah blah blah.

20MPG on e 85 with 4.10s is pretty bad ass.

 

[OnyxCobra]

yeah lower gears multiply the torque. like when you're riding a bicycle when you go to the lower gears it's easy to pedal up a hill, but you also can't go as fast in each gear.

 

[GT3FC]

so in short it will affect your acceleration :thumbsup: (I just wanted to feel included in this one)

I'm running 3.73's in my 02 GT and Its the best ting iv done to my car so far!

 

[883cobra]

would going from 3.08 to 3.55 be much of a noticable change?Since I sometimes drive at interstate speeds I was thinking using 3.73 gears might be to low to use and put a strain on the motor.

 

[chris91]

Not much of a change. 3.73's will be perfect.

 

[OnyxCobra]

would going from 3.08 to 3.55 be much of a noticable change?Since I sometimes drive at interstate speeds I was thinking using 3.73 gears might be to low to use and put a strain on the motor.

it is pretty noticeable, I'm happy with my 3.55s. there's only going to be a couple hundred RPM difference between 3.55s and 3.73s though on the highway.

 

[5litrarag]

373 in a 5 liter Cobra will feel just abut perfect and make it tons more fun to drive. The change in MPG will be almost nothing after you get used to it because you'll want to just nail it off every light for a while. hahaha